12 year olds will not be placed on a Cal Ripken Major 50/70 roster automatically. Given the competitive level of play in the Cal Ripken Major 50/70 league, the Board feels it is important for player development and enjoyment of the game to play at a level commensurate with their skill.

Any 12 year old player not making a Cal Ripken Major 50/70 roster will be guaranteed a roster spot on a Cal Ripken Major 60 roster.

FAQ

What has changed?

Starting with the 2010 season, the Board has decided overwhelmingly to make Cal Ripken Major 50/70 play for 12-year-olds merit-based rather than mandatory. Any 12-year-old player not making a Cal Ripken Major 50/70 roster will be guaranteed a roster spot on a Cal Ripken Major 60 roster.

Why was it changed?

In the past seasons, there have been several concerns regarding some 12-year-olds who were exposed to the higher speed and power at the Cal Ripken Major 50/70 level than they were capable of handling safely. All other towns in the MAC league have a similiar policy.

What will happen to 12-year-olds not placed on a Cal Ripken Major 50/70 team?

All 12-year-olds not placed in the Cal Ripken Major 50/70 team will automatically be placed on a Cal Ripken Major 60 team.

How will placement be decided?

The selection process will be based on the players’ performance at the March evaluations as well as input from last year’s coaches. The overriding factor in the decision will be concern for the players’ safety.

How many Groton teams will there be in the Cal Ripken Major 50/70 league ?

The number of teams will be decided following the evaluation process, and subject to the number of registrations

If my 12-year old child plays on a Cal Ripken Major 60 team, he may be playing with kids 2 school grades lower - can't something be done to have him/her be with friends on a Cal Ripken Major 50/70 team?

Our policy in the past has been to place players more in line with school grades. However, this has exposed kids who were not skilled to a level of play that did not promote fun and/or safety for anyone. The board is sensitive to have players play with their peers, but it was felt that safety was the over riding factor in making this decision. 12 year old players that do not make a Cal Ripken Major 50/70 roster will have a better opportunity to succeed and enjoy themselves playing the game.